China Pressures Zambia to Cancel RightsCon, Taiwan Stands Firm

Organizers of the RightsCon Human Rights Summit just canceled their big event in Zambia,

set for next week, after China leaned on the African nation.

To block Taiwanese activists from attending, the New York-based group Axis now said more

than 2,600 people were expected in person, plus another 1,100.

Online from over 150 countries, all focused on tech and rights issues, like censorship and

surveillance.

Zambia first postponed the conference, claiming they needed to check at the topics match their

national values.

But insiders say the real issue was pressure from China, given Zambia's deep economic

ties there through mining deals.

Organizers refused demands to exclude Taiwanese folks or water down certain discussions.

Folks are fired up about this foreign meddling.

Axis now called it straight up interference blocking the event.

Taiwan's digital affairs minister slammed it as China fearing ideas like freedom and

democracy, especially since last year's summit happened right.

There in Taiwan, human rights watch wants Zambia to come clean on their moves.

This fits a pattern.

Just last month, China got 3 Indian Ocean Islands to deny flyover rights, scrapping Taiwan

President Liching Tay's trip to.

Eswatini, Africa's lone Taiwan ally.

But Lai pulled off a stealth visit there over the weekend, vowing Taiwan won't back down

from the heat.

China keeps flexing its muscle across Africa to isolate Taiwan.

But events like this spotlight, the pushback on global rights stages, keeping the fight.

For open tech and free speech alive.

That's your update from Canada News Today, powered by AI.

I'm Corey with the story.